Guitar Faculty

David Poli

David received his B.M. in classical guitar performance from Montclair State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Recipient of the Morse Estate Scholarship for academic excellence, David has participated in master classes with Guitar Foundation of America winner, Jason Vieaux, Glenn Lyons, Dr. Robert Bedford, Dennis Chinelli, and Dr. David Witten. David is educated in the Alexander Technique, a method of pain management. Instructed by Dr. Robert Bedford, he overcame career ending tendinitis by learning to be aware of unnecessary tensions that manifested during his playing. Professionally, David has performed in the New Jersey premier of the opera Elmer Gantry, the MSU premier of the musical A Man of No Importance, and Giussepe Verdi’s Requiem with the New Jersey Symphony under conductor Neeme Jarvi.  David has performed classical guitar works of: Sor, Aguado, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, Berkeley, Rodrigo, Albeniz, Bach, Sagreras, Kleynjans, Carcassi, Carulli, Tarrega, Brouwer, and piano works of: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Chopin and Albeniz.

Brad Rau

Brad received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Classical Guitar at West Chester University in 2005.  Since then, he has studied privately with Eliot Fisk from New England Conservatory, Marco Pereira of University of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Eden of Birmingham Conservatoire (UK), and with world-renowned, awarding-winning guitarist Eduardo Isaac.  He has performed in master classes with Michael Chapdelaine of University of Texas, Jason Vieaux of Cleveland Institute, and lutenist Richard Stoned of the Baroque Orchestra.  Brad also attended workshops with Grammy-award-winning guitarist Andrew York, Flamenco guitarist Adam del Monte, and Chris Stell of the 'Eden Stell Duo.'  In 2008 he was a semi-finalist in the International Texas Guitar competition.  His unique style of teaching combines traditional methods with eastern and western philosophy and a touch of modern psychology. Watch and Listen to Brad.

Don Reese

Don teaches guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, jazz and pop ensembles, music technology and appreciation classes at Community Music School where he has been a faculty member for nearly 20 years.  Don has a MM in Music History and Classical Guitar Performance from Temple University and a BM in Music Theory and Composition from Mansfield University.  Don is on faculty at both La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA and Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA.  In addition to teaching, Don is also the owner of the Music-In-Print website.  Don performs regularly solo and in The Acoustic Vibe, a guitar and vibraphone/marimba duo with percussionist Cindy Reese, as well as pit bands for musical theatre productions throughout the region. Watch and Listen to Don.